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Add RSS to WebCT

From WebCT Wiki

RSS feeds can be added to your WebCT course via the help of our Feed2JS (Feed-to-JavaScript) service.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines, podcasts and more. An RSS document, which is called a "feed" contains either a summary of content from an associated web site or the full text.

WebCT does not support RSS feeds in and of itself, but our Feed2JS (Feed-to-JavaScript) service can be used to add the content to WebCT course spaces or other web sites.

As the web site that publishes the RSS feed updates their content the RSS feed inside of a WebCT course will also be automatically be updated. As an example, a course in German could have an RSS feed of a newspaper from Stuttgart in their course and every day have new content to review. RSS feeds are often marked by an orange logo.

Our Feed2JS service for adding RSS feeds to WebCT and websites is located at http://kumu.brocku.ca/.

[edit] Adding RSS feeds to WebCT

There are two primary ways to add RSS feeds to WebCT. As their own page or as a header/footer of an existing folder in WebCT.

[edit] Add an RSS feed as a page in WebCT

Create and copy RSS feed
Locate the RSS feed you would like to include in WebCT and copy the URL.
Go to http://kumu.brocku.ca/ and click the "Build your feed" link.
Paste the URL of your feed into form provided and press "Generate JavaScript" (you can also preview and alter other settings at this time if you choose to).
A box with code in it will then appear. Select all of the code and copy it.
Enter WebCT and in the "Build" tab navigate to where you would like the feed to appear.
Select "Add File" and then "Create File".
Add a title for the RSS feed
Paste the code into WebCT
In the area marked "Content" paste in the code you just copied.
Be sure to select "Use HTML" and press Save.

You can then preview your RSS feed in the teach or student view tabs.

[edit] Add an RSS feed to the footer of a folder in WebCT

Create and copy RSS feed
Locate the RSS feed you would like to include in WebCT and copy the URL.
Go to http://kumu.brocku.ca/ and click the "Build your feed" link.
Paste the URL of your feed into form provided and press "Generate JavaScript" (you can also preview and alter other settings at this time if you choose to).
A box with code in it will then appear. Select all of the code and copy it.
Edit footer
Enter WebCT and in the "Build" tab navigate to where you would like the feed to appear (you might want to create a new folder).
Create footer copy RSS feed
From the top right select "Page Options" and "Edit Footer".
In the large blank text-box paste in the code you just copied.
Be sure to select "Use HTML" and press Save.